Broadway AM Report, 5/2/2016 - New York Pops Gala, August Wilson Monologues & More!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it?

THIS WEEKEND'S BIG NEWS: Broadway's best gather for tonight's 2016 New York Pops Gala, this year's August Wilson Monologue Competition is this evening, and the cast of WAITRESS hits the recording studio, so stay tuned for coverage!

NEWS YOU MISSED THIS WEEKEND:

- GUARDS AT THE TAJ, FUTURITY and THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM topped the 2016 Lortel Awards!
- SHUFFLE ALONG will not be considered a revival for this season's Tony Awards...
- Broadway's 'GREAT COMET' will feature immersive seating.
- We got a first look (right) at Vancouver Opera's starry EVITA, a peek at Will Swenson's first bows in DISASTER, a stunning glimpse of THE KING AND I at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, plus shots of SHUFFLE ALONG's opening bows!
- RENT's 20th Anniversary Tour will welcome some of the show's original creative team.
- Judy Garland is headed back to the stage -- via hologram!
- Liza Minnelli will "never" be on Twitter, according to her rep...
- And now you can send in a video audition for NBC's HAIRSPRAY LIVE!

Broadway Weather Forecast: Welcome to May! Rainy this morning, cloudy this afternoon, with a high of 63.

Quote of the Day: A word from birthday girl Christine Baranski...

"It is really hard to do comedy; it takes a lot of energy and focus. It's rather like music: It's a lot of hitting notes precisely."
-- Christine Baranski (via BrainyQuote)

What we're reading: Michael Riedel's RAZZLE DAZZLE, which just won the Marfield Prize, the National Award for Arts Writing!